Latest update April 6th, 2025 11:06 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Reflections on Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jan 25, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
January 20 marks the day, annually, when the American people, indeed the entire world, reflect on the life and work of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was a strong advocate for equal rights and human dignity especially with respect to Blacks in the United States.It is no exaggeration to say that because of his strong advocacy and his passive resistance to discriminatory practices, race relations in the United States have seen marked improvement. In a real sense, King redefined race relations in the United States in a way no other person was able to do.
The late Dr. King would be long remembered for his ability to communicate with people and to mobilize them through the power of speech, the most memorable of which was “I have a Dream” in which he re-affirmed a belief that someday all men regardless of race, colour or creed would live like brothers.
On April 3, 1968, he said to supporters that he had a vision of the “Promised Land” and that even though he may not live to see that day, that day would surely come. As fate would have it, the very next day he was shot and killed by someone obviously sick in the mind. That person turned out to be James Earl Ray who was captured after weeks of a massive manhunt.
But it was his speech “I have a Dream’ delivered on August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, that turned out to be the most acclaimed and enduring speech of all times. The choice of words, the imagery, the manner of articulation, the depth of emotion and thoughts were all flawless as could be seen from the following excerpts:
“But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Profound words indeed. It speaks to the measure of the man and his visionary qualities that today a national holiday in the United States is declared on his birthday and a day of reflection, January 20, is observed in his honour. The United States today has a Black President in the person of Barack Obama, and indication of how much race relations have changed since the days of Martin Luther King.
Sociologists have long debunked the notion of ethnic or racial superiority. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that any race is more intellectually or culturally endowed than the other. Whatever differences existed are largely the work of sick and unscrupulous minds who refuse to accept that blacks and coloureds are as developed and advanced in every aspect and domain of knowledge and intellect.
The fact is that colour is only skin deep and in no way reflective of character or personality. This is why people of the calibre of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. are so highly valued and revered by people all over the world.
Hydar Ally

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 4th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

‘One Guyana’ 3×3 Quest Basketball opens with local teams in mixed results

‘One Guyana’ 3×3 Quest Basketball opens with local teams in...

Apr 06, 2025

-Action concludes today Kaieteur Sports- In a historic occurrence for Guyana’s Basketball fraternity the ‘One Guyana’ 3×3 Quest opened yesterday, Saturday, morning at the Cliff...
Read More
GCA, East Coast surge to huge wins 

GCA, East Coast surge to huge wins 

Apr 06, 2025

GFF/Concacaf kick off two-day Match Commissioners Workshop to boost football operations in Guyana

GFF/Concacaf kick off two-day Match Commissioners...

Apr 06, 2025

Chase’s Academic outclass Bartica to move closer to 2025 title

Chase’s Academic outclass Bartica to move...

Apr 06, 2025

Three Miles Secondary make clean sweep of Jagan Windball cricket titles

Three Miles Secondary make clean sweep of Jagan...

Apr 06, 2025

National Chess champions off to Trinidad and Tobago

National Chess champions off to Trinidad and...

Apr 06, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]